[TSSIM] Chapter 426: Sorrowful

As the group of girls gathered around, they carefully examined the draft that Homura had handed them.

Every detail of the storyline and each character's profile—they were all taking it very seriously.

Writers like Utaha and Nayuta were serious because this work would be their time to shine. After all, how many tears they could get from players or viewers would depend on how powerful the story they came up with would be.

On the other hand, the artists were serious because they needed to fully understand the characters to draw the most fitting character designs.

As for the voice actors, how could they perform without understanding the characters they were voicing?

"Judging by the draft, it really does follow the typical tear-jerker formula..." Utaha murmured. "But... what's up with these characters? And why are there monsters? Isn't this supposed to be a completely ordinary world?"

Upon hearing this, Homura nodded inwardly.

In fact, that was where the magic lies.

'Kanon', 'Air', and 'Clannad' had some fantasy elements in them. After all, without these fantasy elements, some miracles couldn't happen, right?

"Isn't 'Your Name.' the same?" Homura shrugged. "In an ordinary world, it's impossible to swap bodies, right?"

Utaha: "..."

"Should I say the protagonist is pitiful or that these heroines are pitiful?" Elf's lips twitched as she read further.

"They're all equally pitiful..." Nayuta muttered.

"Anyway, this is just the brief setting..." Homura sighed. "It's up to us to work even harder to show the characters' sadness, guilt, and helplessness."

"You mean working harder to make them even more pitiful?" Nico teased.

Homura: "..."

Although what she said was true, did she have to put it so bluntly?

"Even though it's a bit tragic, we can't deny that this is an excellent work..." Eriri nodded while still looking at the draft. "I wish I could see the complete story right now..."

Pa!

A soft sound was heard, and suddenly there was something new on the coffee table.

Girls: "..."

"What's this?"

Eriri's mouth twitched as she looked at Homura.

Homura shrugged and looked toward the writers, especially at Utaha and Nayuta.

"I've already finished one route so I hope you can bring the other routes close to or even surpass this one."

"Is it a script?!"

Nayuta swiftly grabbed the script, her eyes sparkling as she opened it.

Seeing this, the others immediately crowded around her.

After some thought, Homura picked up Haru and held her in his arms, stroking her fur.

"It really is just one route... It starts halfway through, so the appearance of the other heroines is a bit abrupt..." Utaha shook her head helplessly. "You've also given us a tough challenge, making sure the beginning connects with this part of the script."

"Is that really a challenge?" Homura said with a faint smile. "For you guys, if that counts as a challenge, you wouldn't have survived in the novel industry until now."

Utaha blinked at him, then gave a cute smile.

"Hmm, is there a depiction of Makoto as a little fox?"

Kotori suddenly asked as she looked through the script.

"Here." Elf flipped through the draft and pointed to a certain spot. "It briefly mentions something that happened ten years ago. If you connect the dots, you'll pretty much figure it out, but..."

She glanced at Homura holding Haru, her mouth twitching.

'Why does this scene look a bit like something from the script?'

"What?" Homura raised his eyebrows.

"...Nothing." Elf shook her head and continued reading the script.

Seeing her strange demeanor, Homura looked down and saw Haru in his arms.

Realizing something, his eye twitched.

'Could she be thinking I based Makoto's character on Haru?!'

'Bruh, even though I'd love for the little one to turn into a human, if the price is her life, then forget it!'

'Yeah, the most important thing is that the little one can stay by my side! It doesn't matter whether she is a cat or a human! Umu, that's it!'

Thinking this with a smile on his face, Homura nuzzled Haru's face.

"Meow~?" Haru looked at him curiously.

"Heh, it's nothing, just being affectionate." Homura chuckled and nuzzled again.

"Meow~! (Ahh, you messed up my fur!)" Haru shook her head vigorously, the messed-up spot feeling a bit itchy.

"Alright, alright, I'll fix it for you."

Upon hearing his words, Haru couldn't help but roll her eyes. After pressing her paw against him, she didn't bother with him anymore.

"Speaking of which, little one, you've grown a bit."

After the affectionate moment, Homura remarked with a surprise voice.

"Meow~?" Haru flipped over and stood directly on his thigh.

"Uhh... really, after all, you're still a kitten, so it's normal to grow a little... but you do seem to be growing slower than regular cats."

Haru: "..."

No matter what, growing a little was better than not growing at all, right?

Truly, it had been almost three months since Homura adopted Haru. If it were any other kitten, it would've grown a lot by now, but she had only grown a bit.

'Maybe it's because of her level?'

Homura assumed that Haru's lifespan should be much longer than that of other cats after becoming his pet—probably, the higher the level, the longer the life.

Nevertheless, this was the most important thing to him, more so than anything else. If it were true, it meant that Haru could stay with him for a long time.

"Well, growing slowly is fine. If you get any bigger, you won't be able to perch on my head anymore."

Homura rubbed Haru's little head.

Haru yawned with an exasperated look and lay back down.

While the others were focused on the script, Homura quietly stroked Haru.

Even Elf, who had been glancing over occasionally, was now completely engrossed in the script.

As they continued reading, their expressions kept changing.

When Sawatari Makoto, the heroine, appeared and started playing pranks on Aizawa Yuuichi, the protagonist and comic relief, smiles spread across the girls' faces.

However, as Makoto's true identity and the price she had to pay to become human were gradually revealed, their smiles disappeared.

Eventually, their expressions began to turn worried and increasingly sorrowful, until—

"Waaah—!"

'Huh?' Homura looked up in surprise.

"Waaah..."

'It's Kotori...' Homura's brow twitched. 'Shoot, she's crying!'

Just as he thought this, Kotori suddenly rushed over to him and began pounding on his shoulder with her small fists.

"You big meanie! Waaah!"

'Fine, let her be...' Homura smiled wryly. 

"Hit him, hit him!" Honoka said, waving her fists in the air. "How could you write Makoto out of the story like that?!"

Shortly afterward, she sniffled, her eyes red.

"Homura-kun... writing it like this is just too..." Nozomi, though still composed, looked at him as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

"I did leave a bit of suspense though..." Homura continued to smile wryly.

In truth, he hadn't followed the original version exactly, leaving two subtle hints. Even if they didn't mean much, at least they left something to hold on to—some hope.

"What suspense? I didn't see anything!"

Nico turned away, wiped the corners of her eyes, then turned back to yell at Homura.

"Elf... you saw it, right?"

Homura turned his head to Elf.

Elf sniffed, crossed her arms, and turned her head away.

"Hmph, I don't know what you're talking about!"

Homura: "..."